Tennessee Senate panel delays vote on supermarket wine bill

Tennessee Senate panel delays vote on supermarket wine bill

March 12th, 2013by Associated Press in Local - Breaking News

Joe Gamble, with Athens Distributing Company, delivers products to Arthur's Wine and Liquor in Memphis, Tenn. Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A proposal to allow wine to be sold in Tennessee supermarkets and convenience stores scored its first legislative victory on Tuesday after years of frustration. The Senate State and Local Government Committee voted 5-4 to advance the bill that would allow cities and counties to hold referendums next year to decide whether to expand wine sales beyond the state's nearly 600 licensed liquor stores. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Mike Brown)

Joe Gamble, with Athens Distributing Company, delivers products...

Photo by
Associated Press
/Times Free Press.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A proposal to allow local referendums on whether grocery stores should be able to sell wine has been delayed in its final Senate committee to consider several changes desired by groups newly interested in negotiating over the measure.

A special subcommittee was appointed today to work out a final version of the bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro. A full Senate Finance Committee vote was rescheduled for next week.

Among the issues supporters want to hammer out is whether the bill should also allow liquor stores to sell beer, which hours wine would be available for sale and the exact start date of supermarket wine sales after it is approved by voters and w.

The bill has been opposed by liquor wholesalers and package store owners.